Man Convicted Of Gunning Down Road Rage Victim Sentenced To One Year In Jail

The family of a Minnesota road rage victim was outraged when the 73-year-old convicted of shooting their son in the face was sentenced to one year in jail Wednesday.

Joseph Kadlec was found guilty of assault and reckless use of a firearm after he shot Kyle Ronning, 31, in the face during a road rage incident in 2012 – one of six road rage incidents Kadlec had been involved in since 2008.

Kadlec allegedly swerved his car at Ronning’s motorcycle because Ronning tried to pass him. Both of them turned off at a parking lot, where the two had an argument and Kadlec shot Ronning in the chin.

Ronning survived the incident but is permanently disfigured. His medical bills have nearly topped $500,000.

A judge gave Kadlec an 8.5-year suspended sentence and ordered him to spend 365 days in Isanti County Jail. Kadlec was given 20 years probation and is forbidden from ever owning a firearm or driving again.

The victim’s father, Norman Ronning, told CBS Minnesota that he has lost his faith in the justice system.

“I’m sorry. I’m way, way disappointed,” Ronning said. “So we let him go. You give him a year. My hope is that he never makes it out.”

Kadlec, who suffers from congestive heart disease and diabetes, won’t begin serving his sentence until next week, after jail staff prepares to meet his medical needs.

His attorney, Dan Guerrero, says he wanted to have his client under house arrest.

“I would have liked for him to be able to stay at home on electronic home monitoring because … he almost needs total care,” he said.

“I would have liked to see him get the maximum,” said the victim’s father. “He doesn’t belong out here.”